Bars around the world have recently stopped serving Russian vodka in protest to the country's anti-homosexual laws.
CNN Money reported that the protests come in lieu of Vladimir Putin's new laws that bans same sex couples from adopting Russian born children. The law also allows foreigners to be arrested that are suspected to be "pro-gay."
In response to the laws Dan Savage, a sex columnist, started a "Dump Russian Vodka" campaign which asked bartenders and owners to stop selling Russian vodka.
"Show the world that Russian persecution of gays is unacceptable," says a campaign flier. "Boycott Russian vodka until persecution of gays and their allies ends."
One bar in New York City, G Lounge which is a gay bar posted on their Facebook page, "Stoli, and other Russian vodka brands, take pride in their heritage and past, a past now tarnished by a leader favoring the condemnation and jailing of anyone portraying the LGBT community in a positive light. We will always and forever stand by the LGBT community in any way we can."
The U.K. is also boycotting Russian Vodka such as Pride Café in Newcastle who tweeted that they would stop serving Russian Vodka.
CNN Money also reported that nightclub R in Seattle is joining in posting , "Boycotts helped end Apartheid, spurred the Civil Rights Movement, and curbed potential atrocities. "Losing a little revenue pales in comparison to the suffering tied to discrimination, imprisonment, and even death."
Val Mendeleev, who is Chief Operating Officer of SPI Group who owns Stoli in Luxembourg outside of Russia said that in response to the boycott the company would be making a financial donation to an unspecified group that is working on behalf of Russian LGBT activists fighting against the laws in Russia. Stoli's CEO also said that the company was not a Russian company, even though ty still own a distillery in Russia.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
